Pet owners have painted their dogs to look like other animals including pandas and tigers in the latest craze to come out of China. The pictures, which appear to have been taken at a showcase of painted dogs in Zhengzhou, eastern China, show crowds gathering to take photos of the bizarre spectacle.

In one picture a retriever has been made to look like a tiger, while in another a small, fluffy puppy has been painted in the style of a tiny panda. China has often been quick to adopt unusual crazes, and the latest trend for pet owners follows an American fad of painting poodles to look like other animals at dog shows.More

In a new study, an international team of scientists has determined that the long-term survival of many large species in the midst of rapid economic growth in India will require improving existing protected areas and establishing new protected areas and corridors.The study, carried out by researchers at the Wildlife Conservation Society, Duke University, and other groups, found that country’s protected area system and human cultural tolerance for some species are key to conserving the subcontinent’s tigers, elephants, and other large mammals.

The researchers created models to estimate extinction probability for 25 large mammal species, determining current species distributions along with more than 30,000 historical records from natural history, taxidermy and museum records dating back 200 years.The models were used to gauge how factors such as protected areas, forest cover, elevation, and human demographics, and cultural attitudes impact extinction predictions.The results of the analysis found that all 25 species would experience some level of local extinction due to a variety of factors such as habitat loss and human population growth and development.More

They are known as one of the deadliest creatures on Earth. But according to a shocking new study, great white sharks are also one of the most endangered. Wildlife experts say there are now fewer than 3,500 great whites left in the oceans, making them rarer than tigers.Yesterday, marine biologists called for an end to mankind’s long battle with sharks and demanded urgent action to prevent them going extinct.Great white sharks have a deserved reputation as ruthless and efficient killers, who use ambush techniques to attack fish, dolphins and seals from below.More

Crouching tiger, hidden species? Siberian creatures welcome in the Year of the Tiger as China worries about their extinction
The sight of tigers in the wild in China is becoming increasingly rare, but there are hundreds in zoos around the country.So as the country came to a standstill this weekend to celebrate Chinese New Year, and see in the Year of the Tiger, it seemed only natural to use several Siberian tigers to welcome visitors to a zoo in Fuzhou in southeast China’s Fujian province.However, the tigers’ poses were far from natural, as they were cruelly forced into a series of poses as they made their greeting.Sitting on their hind legs with their paws in the air, the tigers were made to hold the poses for a lengthy period of time as visitors entered the zoo.

Rate this:

Conservationists say there are just 3,200 tigers left in the world as the future of the species is threatened by poachers, destruction of their habitat and climate change.The world population of tigers has fallen by 95 per cent in the past century. The WWF said it intends to intensify pressure to save the Panthera tigris by classifying it as the most at risk on its roster of 10 critically endangered animals.It hopes to increase patrols and work with politicians to eradicate poaching and thwart illegal trade of tiger skins and body parts.

The wildlife charity also aims to work with governments to encourage more responsible forest management and compensation for farmers whose livestock are killed by tigers to avoid them being hunted.Diane Walkington, head of species programme for the WWF in Britain, said: “This year has been designated the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations and so we have created a list of 10 critically important endangered animals that we believe will need special monitoring over the next 12 months.

“This year will also be the Chinese Year of the Tiger, and so we have put it at the top of our list. It will have special iconic importance.”Of course, there are thousands of other species on the endangered list. However, there is particular importance in selecting a creature such as the tiger for special attention.”To save the tiger, we have to save its habitat – which is also home to many other threatened species.”So if we get things right and save the tiger, we will also save many other species at the same time.”More

Kerala’s second tiger reserve will open by January or February , state forest minister Binoy Viswam said Sunday.
“All the formalities are over and the opening would take place either in January or February, depending on the availability of union environment minister Jairam Ramesh,” Viswam said.

“Over the last many months, we have been finalising the legalities for turning the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary into the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve,” Viswam said.The sanctuary was established in 1973 and is located over a 285-sq-km protected area in Chittur taluk in Palakkad district of Kerala.

“To this area, we added another 358.662 sq km of forests and the tiger reserve would now have a total area of 643.662 sq km,” he said.The sanctuary has a rich diversity of animal life including 39 species of mammals, 16 species of amphibians, 268 species of birds, reptiles 61 species, fish 47 species, insects 1,049 species and butterflies 124 species.The sanctuary has a variety of trees mainly teak, neem, sandalwood and rosewood.

Kerala’s second tiger reserve will open by January or February , state forest minister Binoy Viswam said Sunday.
“All the formalities are over and the opening would take place either in January or February, depending on the availability of union environment minister Jairam Ramesh,” Viswam said.

“Over the last many months, we have been finalising the legalities for turning the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary into the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve,” Viswam said.The sanctuary was established in 1973 and is located over a 285-sq-km protected area in Chittur taluk in Palakkad district of Kerala.

“To this area, we added another 358.662 sq km of forests and the tiger reserve would now have a total area of 643.662 sq km,” he said.The sanctuary has a rich diversity of animal life including 39 species of mammals, 16 species of amphibians, 268 species of birds, reptiles 61 species, fish 47 species, insects 1,049 species and butterflies 124 species.The sanctuary has a variety of trees mainly teak, neem, sandalwood and rosewood.